– SHACK THOUGHTS — SHACK PARTIES I-VII ’96 –
Listen to these gigs. Listen to all of these gigs — it’s the best advice I can give you. These Shack Parties, where the band played for 7 Mondays in a row at the Knitting Factory in NYC, encompass such a wide range of the band’s talents and musical interests that a summation would simply do the music an injustice. Whether you dig a certain track or guest through this run, you have to admit that each guest brings something unique to the mix which in turn causes the band to react and shift, making the music they all create something adventuresome and real for that moment only. There are also plenty of moments where it’s just the trio and you’ll love it. As they explore both groove and open space with/out guests, it is clear this is a band out to make inspired music.

Oren Bloedow’s speech during Set II of the last Shack Party puts it best … so take a listen and Shack-out with these near 20 year-old musical explorations …

1996-10-21 ticket stub

– SHACK PARTY VI THOUGHTS –

After a brief introduction from illyB, wasting no time, a beat kicks in and the trio along with Eddie Bobe and Vernon Reid launch into some HEADY improvisation, with DJ Logic eventually joining the fray. The next 35min is simply outstanding group communication riding through waves of intensity and loose open grooves — this is Shackin’ Out at its finest, folks. This show is loaded with guests, as Bobe and Reid leave the stage, Daniel Carter joins on sax and Leon Gruenbaum on his very own creation, the Samchillian Tip Tip Tip Cheeepeeeee – see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samchillian – with these players lending their input to the the next set of improvisations. Juliana Nash joins on vocals for a couple of tunes, Gramma’s Hands (played again a few years later with Bruce Hornsby) and accompanied by Jennifer Jackson’s vox on the oldie, Chain of Fools, with Carter remaining on stage, the ensemble is also joined by Logic and Oren Bloedow for this fun celebratory close to the set.

The 2nd set sees many of the same players return, but Ben Perowski on percussion starts the set with the trio, Steven Bernstein makes an appearance on the too-little-played “Going Home”, with David Fiuczynski and Dean Bowman jumping in at the end on a tune they played on a few times with MMW, the Hendrix classic, Crosstown Traffic, which closes the night on a HIGH note.

The space and sounds explored over this 6th Shack Party should do well to sooth you with groove on this Friday Afternoon In The Universe …

The Shack Slideshow

The Shack Tweets

TSP2014 site notes

This site fullfills an OCD urge and is not officially associated with Medeski Martin & Wood. This is an unofficial archive of the band's musical history providing free live downloads and streaming for those who care to dig the grooves.

THANKS

Thanks to MMW for allowing the recording of their live shows, and HUGE thanks to all the tapers as well as the many others out there who have helped get the tunes to our ears!

MMW Photos

I am using photos throughout the site found doing simple Google searches online. I am very thankful to the photographers for the images, and will gladly credit or remove as requested.